Minute disintegration of substances



Nov. 6, 1928.

F. J. E. CHINA MINUTE DISINTEGRA'IION 0F SUBSTANCES Original Filed Nov. '19 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 a 5 m m 6 7 a ll 3 4 J M 5 9 i w? i Nov. 6, 1928. I 1,690,667

F. J. E. CHINA Y MINUTE DISINTEGRAIION OF SUBSTANCES Original Filed Nov.4, 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,667

F. J. E. CHINA MINUTE DISINTEGRATION OF SUBSTANCES Original Filed NOV. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov.

FREDERICK JOHN EDWIN CHINA, OF ESHER, ENGLAND.

Continuation of application Serial No. 599,038, filed November 4,

1922. This application filed December 10, 1923,

My invention relates to improvements in 1 1,690,667 PATENT OFFICE.

I MINUTE 'DISINTEGRATION 0F SUBSTANCES.

the minute disintegration of substances, and more particularly to mills for that purpose and is a continuation of my application filed Nov. 4,

my invention is to finely An object of divide particles 1922, Serial-No. 599,038.

to an extremely small diameter, while at the same time insuring great uniformity Another object of size of particles. of my invention is to utilize forces existingwithin a thin film of liquid in which the particles such film existing surfaces relatively at high velocity.

are suspended, between closely adjacent movable past each other A further object of my invention is to provide methods and apparatus for minute-- ly disintegrating plish the disintegration of a of substances in a short time, mum consumption of which accomlarge amount with a miniparticles power.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide methods tegrating particle and apparatus for disins in which there is a minimum of wear on the machinery, and a miniing surfaces.

A still further and replace.

mum amount of heat generated by the work object is to provide appaoperation, cheap to adjust, repair With these and other objects in View which may be incident to my the invention consists in hereinafter set forth and binations to be claimed, with th several necessary invention, may proportions and parting appended claims.

In order to make my the parts and come understanding that the elements comprising my be varied in construction,

arrangement, without de-- from the spirit. and scope of the invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the an Fig. detail of the bea line '2r 2 of-Fig. of the arrows;

ibject of illustration.

tudinal sectional view.

ring support taken on the 1, looking in; the directionimprovements,

1922, and in Great Britain March 8,

Serial No. 679,748.

a detail view partly in section a modification of my device in input chamber s made very 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 shows another modification of rotor and stator which I may use;

F g. 7 diagrammatically indicates the direction of some of the forces, acting on the liquid in my device;

Fig. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the path of the particles in passing between the relatively movable surfaces of my mill.

My invention comprises passing, a thin filnr of liquid with the suspended particles of liquid or solid therein, between-surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity. There are generated in the thin film of liquid thus acted upon forces which act uponthe particles, liquid or solid, suspended in the liquid, and where the clearance between the moving surfaces is small enough and the velocity of relative movement of the surfaces is great enough, particles will be disrupted. The relative velocities of the surfaces and their distance apart, as well as the time of the operation and the temperature at which it is carried out, determine the amount of force to \.l1lCll the particles are subjected. Generally speaking, the greater the speed, the greater the disruptive forces, and the more closely adjacent the surfaces, the greater the disruptive forces.

It is necessary that the liquid, with the suspended particles therein, be retarded in its passage between the relatively movable surfaces. Su-ch retarding, however, necessarily takes place by reason of the friction between the liquid and the relatively movable closely adjacent surfaces, so that there is sufficient retarding in forms of my apparatus where the film of liquid passes freely between disks.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I have shown a formed with a lower annular flange 3, and an upper annular flange 4 through which the bolts 2. that hold the device in place pass. Formed within the casting 1- is a fluid 0on t-aining chamber 5, having an inlet pipe 6 and an outlet pipe 7 leading into the chamber and adapted to discharge at a point near its top. The purpose of the inlet and outlet pipes is to allow either heating or cooling-fluid,

such as steam or cooling brine, to be circulated 1n the chamber 5 to either raise or lower the temperature at which the operation takes place, if such regulation is found desirable.

Formed within the bottom portion of the wise said surfaces will be injured or scored.

Formed in the upper part ofthe casting 1 is a smooth frustro-conical working surface 9, and between the working surface 9 and the input duct 8 is comprised a conical input chamber 11.

Mounted on the casting 1 is a cover plate 12, which forms with the casting 1 an output chamber 13, from which an output duct 14 leads.

12 is provided with an annular groove 17 in which the shoulder 16 of the casting 1 fits.

' Between the groove 17 and the'shoulder 16 I insert suitable packing material 18.

The cover plate 12 is provided with an ahnular flange 19, which overlies the annular flange 4 of the casting 1.; the bolts 2 WhlCl'l hold the casting 1 to the support pass through the flange 19, as well as the flanges 3 and 4 of the casting 1, and hold the cover plate firmly in place. For purposes of carefully adjusting the relative position of the cover plate 12 to the casting 1, I have provided a series of wedges 21, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The wedges are adapted to lie between the bolts 2, and in practice I have found that three wedges will enable good adjustment to bemade. By-means of these wedges, a careful adjustment of the relat ve position of the cover plate 12 to the casting 1 may be made, in order to properly center the working parts.

Mounted on' top of the casting supporting structure .22 The supporting structure. 22 is provided with a flange 23at itslower end, which is adapted to lie in contact with the top of the cover plate 12. The inner periphery of the flange 23 of the support piece is adapted to abut against an annular shoulder .24 formed on the cover plate 12. A series of holding bolts 25. hold the The casting l is formed with an annular shoulder l6 at its top, and the cover platesupport member 22 in. position. The su port member 22 has, preferably integrally formed therewith, upwardly extending support spiders 26, which terminate at their upper extremity in a ring member 27; the in- 'terior surface of the ring member being screw-threaded, as indicated at 28.

A hearing support piece 29 is provided, on its downwardly extending annular portion 31, with screw-threads 32, which are adapted to engage with the screwthreads 28 of the ring member 27, permitting the bearing support 29 to be ad ustable. A look nut 33 is provided to lock the bearing support 29 in any adjusted position, and a pointer 34, attached to the supporting structure 22, is provided to co-operate with a scale on the periphery of the bearing support 29 and inan inner upper ball race 43. A11 outer upper ball race 44 is adapted to fit in a cylindrical aperture 45 formed in the hearing support 29. Between the inner and outer ball races are two series of balls 46.

Below the portion 42, the shaft is slightly enlarged, as indicated at 47, and around the upper part of the portion 47 of the shaft is fitted a collar 48, whose upper end contacts with the upper inner ball race 43. The bearing support 29 is provided with a downwardly extending annular shoulder 49, having annular packing glands 51 .therein, in which is packed suitable packing to prevent leakage 'larged portion 42 over which is adapted to fit of lubricant from the hearing. A journal box cover 52 is bolted by means of bolts 53 to the bearing suppprt 29. The journal box cover 52 has a downwardly projecting annular lip 54, and the upper outerball race 44 is firmly held between the annular lip 54 and the 'shoul-.

der 49 formed on the bearing support mem-- ber 29.

. The bearing structure, comprising the inner and outer upper bearing races and the he hearing will withstand thrust in either dlrection. I prefer to use the type commercially known as the Skefko? hearing, which is made in Sweden, as this type of bearing overheating or play.

On the portion 47 'of the shaft 37 is a. drive pulley 55, which is keyed to the shaft, and

- balls, operates as a thrust and radial bearing. 12 1s a. T

against which the lower end of the collar 48 rests. The cover plate 12 is provided with an annular recess 56, within. which is mounted the lower bearing and packing structure, which I will now describe. Mounted on the portion 47 of the shaft extending below the pulley '55 is a collar 57, whose upper end is adapted to engage the lower end of the pulley 55. The collar is mounted within a packing gland comprising a plate58 whichlie's over the upper end of the annular recess 56, and is bolted by means of bolts 59 to the upper side of the cover plate 12. The plate 58 is provided with two annular recesses 61 on its inner periphery within which is placed a suit-able packing to form a. tight packing joint around the collar 57.

Mounted below the collar 57 on an enlarged portion 62 of the shaft 37 is an inner ball race 63, whose lower end rests against the shoulder formed between the portion 62 of the shaft, and an enlarged lower portion of the shaft 64. The upper portion of the inner ball race-63 is in contact with the lower portion of the collar 57. Arranged to slidably fit within the walls of the annular recess 56 is an outer ball race 65. j

To prevent leakage of lubricant through the lower opening of the annular recess 56, through which theportion 64 of the shaft 37 passes, I have formed theannular recess 56 with an inwardly projecting annular should'er 67. Below the shoulder 67, the inner walls of the recess 56 are inwardly tapered at 6'8 adjacent the point at which the portion 64 of the shaft 37 passes through the lower part of the cover plate 12. I

Fitting around the portion 64 of the shaft is a packing plate 69 having a shoulder 71, lying above the shoulder 67 of the cover plate 12, with its outer periphery. in engagement with the inner periphery of the annular recess 56. The packing plate 69 is formed with a downwardly extending lip 72, which fits around the portion64 of the shaft 37. Between the lower edge of the downwardly extending lip 72 and the sloped walls 68 in the cover plate, I have inserted packing material 73 to prevent leakage-of lubricant.

To hold the packing plate 69 pressed against the packing 73, I have formed an an nular groove 74 in .the wall of the recess 56. Within this groove I mount a split ring 75, whose elasticity when sprung into position keeps the packing plate 69 pressing against the packing 73. The packing gland thus formed is adapted to ordinarily withstand a pressure of about twenty-five pounds without leakage. This packing gland near the lowerv portion of the cover plate, not only serves to prevent lubricant from leaking out of. the lower bearing'st-ructure, but at the same time pr'ovides means for preventing liquid within the output chamber 1301 the mill from passing into the lower bearing, should any, considerable pressure be generated in this output chamber.

' Adjustment of the clearance between the fixed working surface 9 and the rotating working surface 36 of the rotor 35, can be very easily and accurately effected by loosening the lock nut 33, on the threaded portion 31 of the bearing support 29, and rotating the bearing support 29 until'the exact adjustment is obtained. The working surfaces are held equi-distantly and fixedly spaced when the lock nut 33 is screwed in place. The

' pointer 34 enables the person performing the adjustment to accurately tell the. degree of rotation imparted to the bearing support 29. As before stated, the bearing support 29 is preferably formed with ascale on its outer periphery for .co-operation with the pointer 34, to enable an accurate adjustment to be obtained.

The whole upper bearing structure is either raised or lowered by rotating the bearing support 29. The outer upper ball race 44 is moved with the bearing support, and through the balls 45, carries the inner ball race 43 with it. The inner ball race is held 1 against longitudinal displacement on the shaft by the collar 49 whose lower end abuts the fixed pulley 55, and by the lock nuts 41. By reason of the fact that the lower inner ball race 63 is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft by the collar 57, and the shoulder formed at the upper extremity of the portion 64 of the shaft, the lower inner ball race 63 must move with the shaft. The balls 66 cause the outer ball race 65 to slide either up or down within the annular recess 56 in accordance with the adjustment of the shaft.

It will be apparent by reason of the hearing mountings and the shaft structure, that when the upper bearing support 29' is either raised or lowered, the lower bearing moves with it.

One of the support spiders 26 is made of less arcuate breadth than the other support spiders to permit a belt to pass readily over the pulley 55. A suitable source of power moves the belt 76, which impart-s rotation to the pulley 55 to cause the rotor 35 to" rotate. The screw-threads which are formed on the upper bearing support 29'are in such a disupport 29 to unscrew in case the lock nut 33 v is not tightly adjusted to prevent such an occurrence. This gives an added factor of safety, for should the proper tightening of the. lock nut 33 not be effected, the normal operation of the machine will tend .to continually increase the. distance between the smooth conical working surfaces, thus preventing injury to the machine.

I have found that in disintegrating parti cles, liquid or solid,.susp nded in a liquid,

' from two-thousandths of thousandths of an inch.

, therein,

- the brief time that the liquid with The peripheralspeed of the rotor may vary from approximately 150 feet a second to 600 disintegrated may be either liquid or solid particles; While I have given speeds and clearances, as above outlined, it is to be distinctly understood that I am not limited to any exact speeds and clearances which lie within the scope of my invention.

The liquid, with the suspended particles is introduced through the input duct 8 and passes into the input chamber 11. The rotor is moving at a high rate of speed, and the liquid with the suspended particles is sucked in between the working surfaces and ejected into the output chamber. During the suspended particles takes in passing from the input chamber, through the film and into the output chamber, the particles have been disrupted and will be found to be of much smaller diameter; It has been difiicult to investigate exactly what happens within the film and exactly what forces are at work, but certain evidence-has been obtained in the following manner:

1 'It has been foundthat in a mill designed according to my invention and having two concentric co-axial and co-acting conical working surfaces, the material dealt with has produced curved or stream-line markings on the concave conical working surface of the stator. It is not clear whether these markings are produced chemically or mechanically. In all probability, a combination of effects has been at work. Thesemarkings, however, give an indication particles through the mill. the markings, offer a simple means of deducing the actual velocity of the particles within the film.

From the thickness of the film, length of path of the particles as shown. by markings On investigating on the stator, general dimensions of the mill,

rate at which'the liquid is passing through the film, and clearance between the working surfaces,the velocity of the particles along their path within the film can be calculated.

Referring to Fig. 8, I havediagr'ammatically shown the stream-line markings as found on the stator or concave conical working surface of the form of F igs; 1 to -3, inclusive.

The mean of a number of experiments shows that this velocity with this form of mill is less than half the peripheral .velocity mill shown in of the rotor. Nowthe velocity of any par-' of the-path of the p it has been found that they' ticle within the fihn-depends chiefly on the following factors :I

21) Revolution-speed of the rotor.

2) Diameter of the rotor.

(3) Angle of the rotor.

(4) Thickness of the film.

(5) Speed of the liquid through the film (the liquid being either pumped or sucked through the film space).

( 6) Viscosity of'the liquid.

In Fig; 7, which represents a section through the conical surfaces of a mill comprising .a rotor and stator as described in Figs. lto 3 inclusive, R is a portion of ;a

rotor which constitutes the inner and moving working surface. The outer and stationary vorking surface is designated by;the letter Liquid enters the .film or clearance .space between the surfaces-R and S in the direction shown by the arrow C. When inside the film, the main forces at work on it are as follows: When the liquid comes in contact with the rotor, the latter imparts to it a velocity in. a circumferential direction, and in fact.

tends to carry the film around with itself; Centrifugal force, however, is also imparted to the liquid, tending to throw the liquid away from the rotor against the stationary surface in the direction indicated by arrow T. The final component of this force along the direction indicated by the arrow V ejects the liquid from the film confines.

It is thus apparent that the centrifugal force under ordinary circumstances plays an important factor in regulating'the time during which the particles are subjected to the disruptive forces existing within the film, as well as the magnitude of such forces. The disruptive forces are believed to be due to the shearing action which occurs within the film. There is no true grinding action which takes place within my mill. Thisdatter fact permits of large output with small utilization .of power, and saves wear and tear on the workingparts. There is but slight heating of the mill for a long. continued operation at high speed, which shows that but little force is dissipated in production of heat.

. The operation may be carried on at reduced or elevated temperatureby means of introduction of cooling or heating fluid into the chamber 5.

By reason of the fact that the working surfaces are held fixedly spaced, there canbe no accidental touching of the. working surfaces and hence injury to the mill. The exact thickness of the fihn for any one operation once determined will not vary during the operation, for any changesin the relative pressures existing between the input chamber and the output fect the adjustment.

1 In Fig.1, I have shown a modification of my mill inwhich the input chamber 11 is chamber cannot 'afmaterially conditions of operation I have found a small input chamber to be advisable. The conical rotor 35 revolving at high speed causes suction in the input chamber 11 by reason of the centrifugal action on the liquid. This action causes the feeding of material through the mill, but where there is a large input chamber, under certain conditions, a partial vacuum may be produced. The material is then fed in pulses, but 'here the input chamber is restricted in size, there is small danger of pulsation, since a large quantity of the. liquid cannot be evacuated from the input chamber at one time. Under certain working conditions, the modification shown in Fig. 3 has been found a preferred form in practice.

{ In the form of invention Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a type of mill in which the material to be disintegrated may be introduced on the film itself, without mixing itwith the liquid which acts as a suspending medium inthe input chamber of the mill.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a mill in which passageslOO' and 101 are formed in the base casting 1, such passages communicating at their upper ends with the smooth conical surface 9 of the stator element of the mill. Through suitable pipe connections (not shown) the materials to be disintegrated may be introduced through the passages 100 and 101 directly on the film between the working surfaces, thereby elimi; nating the mixing of the material to be disintegrated with the liquid in which the suspension is to be made. The passages 100.and

101 are preferably of elongated shape, as

the particular shape shown in Fig. 7, though der or exact location of the.passages vary un different operating conditions.

This type of mill is of particular application in those cases where it is not desirable to mix the constituents by the disruptive forces existing in the film. For instance, suppose I desire to make a finelv divided lead chromate suspension in water.

- If the solution of lead salt is mixed with a solution of a chromate prior to being fed into the mill, then the precipitation of lead chromate so formed will commence to crystallize at once. However, if the solution of the chromate in water is introduced through the input duct 8, and the mill started, so that disruptive forces exist within the. film, then the solution .of lead salt may be fed in through duct 101 and duct 100. The mixture then takes place on the film in the presence of disruptive forces, with the result that the forces get to work before crystallization takes place, ,and a very finely divided lead chromate in suspension in water is obtained.

It is, of course, bvious that inall instances it is not necessary to havetwo ducts for feeding material to be disintegrated on the film,

reduced in size. Under certain illustrated. in

before being acted upon as in many instances one duct will suffice, while in other cases it may be necessary to have more than two ducts. In those instances where the substances to be mixed in the presence of the disruptive forces are numerous and their admixture prior to subjecting them to the forces of the film is'inadvisable, each different material may be fed through a separate duct.

In another modification illustrated in Fig. 6, I have shown a base 252 having a frustroconical working surface 253. In the base is formed a shallowconical depression 254: which operates as an input chamber. Passing through the base 252 is an input duct 255, which leads to the input chamber 254.

Mounted above the base 252 is a rotor 256 suitably attached to a shaft 257. The rotor 256 is provided with a downwardly and obliquely extending flange 258, upon the inner surface of which is formed a working surface 259, which is adapted to lie closely adjacent to the working surface 253 of the stator. In this type of mill, the working surface which is impartingthe centrifugal force, t-o the particles is the surface against which the particles are tightly pressed by such centrifugal force. In this type of mill the particles are held pressed against the moving surface.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim c 1. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprislng, closely adjusted adjacent surby those skilled in the at high velocity, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing such movement of said surfaces, and means for introducing the fluid in a film between said surfaces whereby the particles are. disintegratedby reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

2 An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing such movement of said surfaces, and means for introducing the fluid in a film between said surfaces whereby the particles are disintegrated lply reason of the disruptive forces within the smooth closely adjacent surfaces ticles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid adjacent equidistantly' comprising closely spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing such movement of said surfaces, and means for introducing the fluid in a film between saidsurfaces whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

I 4. An apparatus 'for disintegrating par ticles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, smooth closely adjacent equidistantly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing such movement of and means for introducing the fluid in a film between said surfaces whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the 5. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth k frusto-conicalworking surface closely adjacent 'to the first mentioned surface, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing one member to rotate with respect to the other, and means for introducing the liquidin a film between said working surfaces whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film and ejected by the centrifugal forces act ing onthe film.

6. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising a member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface, a second member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface closely adjacent to and equidistantly spaced from the first mentioned surface, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing one member to rotate with respect to the other, and means for introducing the liquid in a film between said workingsurfaces whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within'the film and ejected by the cen trifugal forces acting on the filfn.

7. An apparatus for disintegrating par-- ticles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frusto-conical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface closely adjacent to and equidistantly spaced from the first mentioned surface, means for holdingthe surfaces fixed- 'lyspaced, means for causing the rotatable member to rotate with respect to the fixed member, and means for introducing the li uid'relatively near the axis of rotation of the rotating member whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive said surfaces,

forces within the film and are discharged by centrifugal force at a position more remote from the'axis of rotation of the rotatable member than the place of introduction of said particles.

8. 'An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a member having a smooth frustro-conical Working surface,'a second member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface closely adjacent to and equi-distantly spaced from the first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, means for keeping said working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing one member to rotate with respect to the other, and means for introducing the liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles .are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film and ejected by the centrifugal forces acting on the film.

9. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frustroconical working surface closely adjacent to and equi-distantly spaced from the first mentioned surface 'working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing the rotatable memberto rotate with respect to the fixed member, and means for introducing the liquid relatively near the axis of rotation of the rotating member, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film, and are discharged by at a position more remote from the axis of rotation of the rotatable member than the place of introduction of said particles.

10, An apparatus for disintegrating-particles,.liqu-id or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frustro-conical Working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frustro-conical Working surface. closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface but having no points 0" contact therewith, a shaft on which the 1'0, tatable memberis mounted, means co-operating with the shaft for taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for rotating the shaft, and means for introducing liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of/the but having no points Int centrifugal force I disru tive forces within the film and ejected by the centrifugal forces acting on the film.

11. An apparatus for disintegrating par-:

ticles, liquid-or solid, comprising, working surface,

suspended in a liquid a rotatable member having a fixed member having a smooth,

a. smooth working surface closely adjacent mum first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, a shaft on which at high velocity, and means for introducing the liquid 1n a film between said working surthe rotatable member is mounted, means cooperating with the shaft for taking thrust inboth directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for rotating the shaft faces whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces wlthm the film.

12. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid surfaces, means for rotating the shaft at high velocity, and means for introdiu'ring the a liquid in a film between said-working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated l'-v reason of the disruptive forces within the film. i

13. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth Working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surfacebut having no points of contact therewith, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, a support, a bearing carried'by the support and moving with'the shaft, and capable of taking thrust in both directions to keepthe working surfaces fixedly spaced a desired distance, an adjusting member having screw-threaded engagement with the support for moving the bearing, means for rotating the shaft at high velocity and means for introducing the liquidin a film between said working surfaces, whereby theparticles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film. i

14. An' app'aratus'for disintegrat iiig particles, liquid orsolid, suspendedin a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface but having no points ofcontact therewith, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, a support,

engagement with the support, a bearing moving with the shaft, housed in the adjusting member and capable of taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fix edly spaced a desired distance, means for ro-l tating the shaft, and means for introducing the liquid in afilm between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the filnr 15. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid,

comprising a fixed member having a smooth working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, a support, an adjusting member having screw-threaded engagement with the support, a bearing moving with the shaft, housed in the adjusting member and capable of takingthrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced a desired distance, a lock nut mounted on the ad usting member and cooperating with the support to prevent change of adjustment during operation, means for rotating the shaft, and means for introducing the liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

16. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended .in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, a support, a bearing carried by the support and moving with the shaft, and capable of taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced a desired distance, an adjusting member having screw-threaded en-.

gagement with the support formoving the bearing, a second bearing support, a ball bearing mechanism adapted to slide in said second bearing support, means for rotating the shaft, and means for itnroducing the liquid in a film'between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason ofthe disruptive forces Withinthe film.

17. An apparatus for disintegrating partis cles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liqiiid comprising, closely adjusted surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, means for holding the surfaces fix edly spaced, means for causing such movement of said surfaces, an input chambeigan output chamber, a fiuid jacket adjacentgthe input chamber having an inlet and an'outlet whereby the temperature of the operation an adjusting member having screw-threaded may be regulated, and means for introducing the fluid m a film between said surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces Within the 18. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, smooth closely adjacent equidistantly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, means for holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing such movement of said surfaces, an input chamber, an output chamber, a fluid jacket adjacent the input chamber having an inlet and an outlet whereby the temperature of the operation may be regulated, and means for introducing the fluid in a film between said surfaces whereby the particles are dishaving an' inlet and outlet whereby the temperature of the operation may be regulated,

and means for introducing the liquid relatively near the axis ofrotation of the rotating member, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film and are discharged'byv centrifugal force at-a position more remote from the axis of rotation of the rotatable member than the place of introduction of said particles.

20. An apparatus for disintegrating par- H ticles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface, a second member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface closely adjacent to and equidistantly spaced from the first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, means for keeping said working surfaces fixedly spaced, an input chamber, a fluid jacket adjacent the input chamber having an inlet and an outlet, and means for causing one member to rotate with respect to the other member, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of thedisruptivelforces within the vfilm and ejectedtherefrom by reason of the centrifugal forces acting on the film. v

21. An apparatus for disintegratingparticles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to thefirst mentioned surfacebut having no points of contact therewith, an input chamber, a fluid jacket adjacent the input chamber having an inlet and an outlet, whereby the temperature of the operation may be regulated, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, a support, a bearing carried by the support and moving with the shaft,

and capable of taking thrust in both directions tokeep the working surfaces fixedly spaced a desired distance, an adjusting member having screw-threaded engagement with the support for moving the bearing, means for rotating the shaft at high velocity, and means for introducing the liquid in a film between said surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within'the film.

22. A film mill for the disintegration of particles suspended in a liquid comprising,

members having closely adjacent fixedly spaced working surfaces, means for causing said surfaces to move relative to each other at high velocity, and an input chamber of small cubic content whereby the feeding of the liquid in pulses is minimized.

23. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, members having closely adjacent smooth working surfaces, means for keeping said working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing said surfaces to move one past the other at high velocity, an input chamber of small cubic content, whereby the feeding of the liquid in pulses is minimized, and means for introducing'the liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

24. An apparatus for disintegrating par-' ticles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid, comprising a fixed member having a smooth working surface, a rotatable member havinga smooth. working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, means cooperating with the shaft for taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for rotating the shaft, an input chamber of small cubic content, whereby the feeding of the lquid in pulses 1s minimized, and means for introducing the liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby vthe particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

25. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having as'mooth working surface, a rotatable member-"having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface but having no points of contact therewith, a shaft on which the rotatable member is mounted, a bearing moving with the shaft and capable of taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced a desired distance, means for adjusting the position of the bearing to re ulate the separation of the working surfaces, means for rotating the shaft, and an input chamber of small cubic content, whereby the feeding of the liquid in pulses is minimized, and means for introducing the liquid in a filmto said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

26. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to the action of closely adjacent non-contacting fixedly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, and introducing the particles to be disintegrated on the film itself.

27. A method of distintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to the action of closely adjacent non-contacting fixedly spaced smooth surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, and introducing the particles to be disintegrated on the film itself.

28. A method of disintegrating particles suspended in a liquid comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to the action of closely adjacent non-contacting fixedly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, the diameter of the particles being less than the distance between the surfaces, and introducing the particles to be disintegrated on the film itself.

29. A method of disintegrating particles comprising, subjecting a very thin film of the liquid to the action of closely adjacent noncontacting fixedly spaced surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, and introducing a plurality of. substances to be mixed and disintegrated at a plurality of different points on the film.

30. An apparatus for disintegrating particles,liquid or solid,suspended in a liquid comprising, a member having a smooth working surface, a second member having a smooth working surface closely adjacent to and equidistantly and fixedly spaced from the first mentioned surface, and having a duct opening on the smooth working surface, means for causing one member to rotate at high velocity with respect to the other member, means for introducing the liquid in a film between the surfaces, and means for introducing the substances to be disintegrated through said duct.

31. An apparatus for disintegrating parti cles, liquid or solid, comprising, a member having a smooth working surface, a second member having a smooth-working surface closely adjacent to and equi-distantly and fixedly spaced from the first mentioned surface, a plurality of ducts leading from said member to the Working surface, means for causing one member to rotate at high velocity with respect to the other, means for'introducing the liquid in a thin film between the working surfaces, and means for introducing substances to be mixed and disintegrated through said ducts.

32. An apparatus for disintegrating particles,liquid or solid,suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface and enclosing the same, a shaft upon which the rotatable member is mounted, means co-operating with the shaft to take thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, and means for rotating the shaft.

33. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frustro-coni'cal working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frnstro-conical working surface closely adjacent to the first mentioned surface and enclosing said first mentioned surface, a shaft upon which the rotatable member is mounted, means cooperating with the shaft to take thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for rotating the shaft, and means-for introducing liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

34. An apparatus for disintegrating parti- 'cles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed member having a smooth frustroconical working surface, a rotatable member having a smooth frustro-conical working surface closely adjacent to and en closing said first mentioned surface, a shaft upon which the rotatable member is mounted, means co-operating with the shaft for taking thrust in both directions to keep the working surfaces fixedly spaced, means for rotating the shaft, and means for introducing liquid in a film between said working surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of the disruptive forces within the film.

35. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed working surface, a rotor havin a smooth working surface adjacent the fixed surface, a shaft for the rotor, a ball race carried bythe shaft, a cooperating ball race adjacent the first mentioned race and enclosing it, balls in the races, said races being so constructed that they form with the balls a bearing capable of taking thrust in both directions, and means for adjusting the position of the first mentioned race to effect the bearing support member preventing movement of .the shaft on its longitudinal axis relative to said bearing and mounted in the bearing support.

37. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid suspended in a liquid comprising a fixed Working surface, a rotor having a smooth working surface adjacent the fixed surface, a shaft therefor, a bearing for the shaft mounted in the bearing support member preventing movement thereof on its longitudinal axis relative to said bearing, a bearing support, and a cover for the bearing support engaging said bearing to cause the bearing to travel with the bearing support.

38. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed working surface, a support, a pointer carried by the support, a hearing support member in screw-threaded engagement with the support, a micrometer head carried by the bearing support member,

a rotor having a smooth working surface adjacent the fixed working surface, a shaft for the rotor, and a bearing for the shaft preventing movement of the shaft on its longitudinal axis relative to said bearing and mounted in thebearing support.

39. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed working surface, a support, a bearing support member in screwthreaded engagement with the support, a

rotor having a smooth Working surface adjacent the fixed surface, a shaft for the rotor, a bearing for the shaft preventing movement of the shaft on its longitudinal axis relative to said bearing and mounted in the bearing support, and a cover for the bearing support engaging with said bearing to cause the bearing to travel with the bearing support 40. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid 41. Anapparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, a fixed working surface, a support, a pointer carried by the support, a hearing support, a micrometer head carried by the bearing support, a rotor having a working surface adjacent the fixed working sur face, a shaft for the rotor, a bearing for the shaft preventing movement of the shaft on its longitudinal axis relative to said bearing, and mounted in the bearing support, a cover for the bearingsupport engaging with said bearing to cause the bearing to travel with the bearing support, a member having a recess therein, and a second bearing for the shaft slidably fitting within the recess in said member.

42. An apparatus for disintegrating particles, liquid or solid, suspended in a liquid comprising, smooth closely adjacent surfaces relatively movable one past the other at high velocity, means for adjustably holding the surfaces fixedly spaced, means for causing such movement of said surfaces, and means for introducing the fluid in afilm between said surfaces, whereby the particles are disintegrated by reason of thedisruptive forces Within the film.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK JOHN EDWIN CHINA. 

